This cleric has nothing to say about when Muslims get the coronavirus, but there is another aspect to this as well: the open hatred of non-Muslims expressed here and by so many other Muslim clerics, yet is completely ignored in the West.
“Muhammad is the apostle of Allah. Those who follow him are ruthless to unbelievers, merciful to one another” (Qur’an 48:29).
“Corona virus ‘is one of Almighty Allah’s soldiers… He is unleashing it on those who attack His believers,’ says preacher on official PA TV,” by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, March 9, 2020:
Before Corona broke out in the PA, a preacher on official Palestinian Authority TV taught that the virus is “one of Almighty Allah’s soldiers” and that Allah is punishing the sinners – “those who attack His believers”:
Unidentified preacher: “The true meaning of the epidemics is a trial from Almighty Allah and a punishment. A trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners… If they have stood firm and place their trust in Allah, then they will receive an enormous reward, and whoever dies in the epidemic merits the reward of Martyrdom… If the epidemic harms non-believers, from among the abusers and the aggressors, then that is punishment… This [Corona] virus is one of Almighty Allah’s soldiers, and He is unleashing it on those who attack His believers…”
[Official PA TV, Feb. 28, 2020]
The unidentified preacher further explained that epidemics are “a trial for the believers and a punishment for the sinners.” To underscore this religious view – that epidemics are a punishment – the preacher quoted Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and his uncle Ibn Abbas who both explained that plagues are the punishment for people in places where “abomination” and “corruption” occur:
“The Sunna (i.e., Islamic tradition) has indicated that acts of abomination and corruption cause epidemics. Prophet [Muhammad] said: ‘An abomination has not appeared among a people… without plague and suffering breaking out…’ And Ibn Abbas (an uncle of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and an early Quranic scholar –Ed.) said: ‘Corruption has never appeared among any people without mass death reaching them.'”
However, since Muslim believers are also dying from Corona the preacher added that believers who die from the epidemic are being tested and “if they have stood firm and place their trust in Allah, then they will receive an enormous reward, and whoever dies in the epidemic merits the reward of Martyrdom.”
The PA preacher’s message is that because of the corruption and abomination in the world, “Allah’s soldiers” – in this case the Corona virus – bring retribution on humanity.
While this preacher was not identified, his sermon was broadcast by official PA TV and the PA Ministry of Religious Affairs has just announced once again that it is responsible for appointing Imams in the mosques:
“[PA] Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Husam Abu Al-Rub… said that the ministry is making sure to support the mosques and appoint skilled and capable Imams and preachers so that they will take upon themselves the responsibility of managing the mosques, organizing them, supervising them, leading the worshippers, and giving the Friday sermon.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 29, 2020]…
